{"id":28384,"date":"2022-12-30T18:25:16","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T23:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=28384"},"modified":"2022-12-30T19:13:29","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T00:13:29","slug":"parents-choice-to-bring-children-to-explicit-drag-shows-slams-investigations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2022\/12\/30\/parents-choice-to-bring-children-to-explicit-drag-shows-slams-investigations\/","title":{"rendered":"Parent\u2019s Choice to Bring Children to Explicit Drag Shows Slams Investigations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Democrat-State-Rep.-Anna-Eskamani-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Democrat-State-Rep.-Anna-Eskamani-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Democrat-State-Rep.-Anna-Eskamani-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Democrat-State-Rep.-Anna-Eskamani-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Democrat-State-Rep.-Anna-Eskamani.jpg 1200w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando&nbsp;believes it is a \u201cpolitical performance\u201d for the state of Florida to warn venues not to allow kids to watch sexual performances at recent drag shows. Others believe that venues should be held accountable if they show explicit performances to children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VEEv5k0FZ_8\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The disagreements come after a controversial drag show performance called \u201cA Drag Queen Christmas\u201d toured the country, including four Florida cities including Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Clearwater. Lakeland Gazette can confirm that several children were exposed to explicit dances, swearing, and explicit sexual jokes in Orlando at The Plaza Live performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This Drag queen had a lot to say to children who were on the front row who were being given money by their mother to hand to the Drag Queens.<br><br>He engaged with two different children, a 9 and 10 year old. <br><br>\u201cAre you having fun, are you enjoying it, are you confused yet?\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KydNKlJjND\">pic.twitter.com\/KydNKlJjND<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylerUSA\/status\/1603469779397971989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 15, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando venues allowed children to attend \u201cA Drag Queen Christmas.\u201d The Orlando venue advertised \u201call ages welcome\u201d while the other two said minors need to be accompanied by an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to the performance,&nbsp;the Florida Department of Business &amp; Professional Regulation&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/12-28-2022-Letter-to-Ruth-Eckerd-Hall-Inc.pdf\">issued a warning<\/a>&nbsp;regarding children attending sexually explicit drag shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The DeSantis Administration cited Florida\u2019s licensure laws that entail strict penalties for licensees who allow minors to attend such drag shows at their licensed premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe actions by DBPR in targeting drag shows across the state is political performance, but it is also intimidation and the notion of losing your liquor license is huge for any small business, especially an organization like Plaza Live,\u201d Eskamani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Eskamani&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AnnaForFlorida\/status\/1608611232852111360?s=20&amp;t=Pt9tVjOecir-1cTPx3nooA\">said<\/a>&nbsp;she has had enough of \u201chomophobic messaging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NIfo2AB3lYg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s just incredibly ironic. I mean, Governor DeSantis continues to demonize LGBTQ+ people and their performances. Meanwhile, whether it\u2019s Hooters, whether it\u2019s rated M or R shows or movies you don\u2019t see that same type of rhetoric or concern for the well-being of children,\u201d&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AnnaForFlorida\/status\/1608611232852111360?s=20&amp;t=mzprViFA4a-9uY4-dnJCTg\">she continued<\/a>. \u201cIt is a parent\u2019s choice. You know, the Republican Party talks all about choice. They talk all about parental rights. It is a parent\u2019s choice to decide what content is appropriate versus not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Elon Gerberg, a father and founder of Florida Fathers for Freedom, said the show is not for kids in a recent&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/video\/oan-contribution\/parents-protesting-all-ages-christmas-drag-show-making-its-way-across-the-nation\/\">interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This performer paraded around with his \u201ctits in a box\u201d and shook his buttocks for the crowd. <br><br>At one point the Drag Queen said \u201care you reaching for my titties are you hungry\u201d to a child in the audience. <br><br>Throughout the Drag Queen talking he had multiple people spank him. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7WrGDcv3bH\">pic.twitter.com\/7WrGDcv3bH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylerUSA\/status\/1603465689628610567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 15, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStanding against and exposing the sexualization of children will bring out the most evil, ugly opposition. They will call you transphobic, homophobic, a fascist, a Nazi.. but DO NOT let that deter you from being a good parent and doing the right thing,\u201d said Gerberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Gerberg and others protested at the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando venues the night of the performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s grown men in lingerie essentially, dancing in front of young children [\u2026] There\u2019s all types of sexual acts that children should have no business watching,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is wrong and parents need to stand up against it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The show displayed drag queens and others dancing sensually. For example, one performance included \u201cScrewdolph the red-nippled reindeer\u201d with breasts that lit up red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Screwdolph the Red Nippled Reindeer was performed at last night\u2019s Drag Queen Christmas in Ft. Lauderdale with kids in the audience. Pretty much everything you saw on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaylerUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TaylerUSA<\/a>\u2019s thread. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ssfe4zE8Nc\">pic.twitter.com\/ssfe4zE8Nc<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Chris Nelson ?? ? (@ReOpenChris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReOpenChris\/status\/1607780487988219907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 27, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cScrewdolph with your nipples so bright, won\u2019t you guide my sleigh tonight,\u201d was sung during the performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">During one performance, one of the drag queens said \u201cjust throw your wiener on me,\u201d making a sexual joke to the other drag queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Many performers were wearing little clothing, with prosthetic body parts, and thongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZuNriRLNJDg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issued the following letter to the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, which reads in part:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">The Department has reason to believe that this drag show is of a sexual nature, involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and\/or the sexualization of children\u2019s stories. The Department has also become aware that drag shows by Drag Fans have been marketed to and attended by minors, including young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">Sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">In short, if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility,&nbsp;you are putting your license in jeopardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">To avoid action being taken against your license, it is your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">If minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and all actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Melanie S. Griffin<br>Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"195\" height=\"294\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Florida-Attorney-General-Ashley-Moody.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28385\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Gov. Ron DeSantis and the executive branch will be taking the investigation of a drag show that took place in Fort Lauderdale seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Moody was on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6317972160112\">Fox Friends First<\/a>&nbsp;and said \u201cenergy in the executive in Florida is on full display\u201d and credited DeSantis. She explained that no parent or business is exempt from \u201cliability\u201d for exposing children to \u201csexually suggestive material.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">GRAPHIC<br><br>Mayor of Knoxville, TN attended \u201cDrag Queen Christmas\u201d which was open for \u201call-ages.\u201d<br><br>The show is by a group on tour throughout the US. Their shows feature exposed buttholes, simulated sex acts, &amp; oversized fake exposed breasts.<br><br>Elected officials are promoting this. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/60rLNhrVGL\">pic.twitter.com\/60rLNhrVGL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/libsoftiktok\/status\/1606355945700802560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 23, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLook at the two differences between President Biden and Governor DeSantis, certainly energy in the executive in Florida is on full display,\u201d said Moody. \u201cWhen folks are complaining, when there\u2019s an allegation that children are being exposed to inappropriate material, whether that\u2019s with a parent or not, I can tell you, as a judge and a former prosecutor, I saw all the time, parents against laws exposed children to explicit, sexually suggestive material. That doesn\u2019t exempt anyone, a parent or a business from liability for such behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After noticing MULTIPLE children in the audience at the explicit Drag Queen Christmas in Ft Lauderdale I called out performer Nina West for inviting and allowing children to come to her sexually explicit shows! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3XA4qqV0IR\">pic.twitter.com\/3XA4qqV0IR<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Chris Nelson ?? ? (@ReOpenChris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReOpenChris\/status\/1607573217358630912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 27, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando&nbsp;believes it is a \u201cpolitical performance\u201d for the state of Florida to warn venues not to allow kids to watch sexual performances at recent&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":71799,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[4155],"class_list":["post-28384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-regional-and-world-news","tag-parents-choice-to-bring-children-to-explicit-drag-shows-slams-investigations"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}